Mister D|zWorld

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Webpage History Projects

So. . . you would like to create a homepage on a topic for a research project.  Great! I am very excited by the possibilities, and look forward to the time when this homepage will carry links to many high-quality sites created by YOU, my students!

But, beware!

Conjuring up a page with lots of Javascript, textures, animations and other razzamatazz is not the same thing as creating a quality project. There are a lot of ways you can amuse yourself, but not end up with an acceptable history project.  Also, you might end up taking longer than you think learning how to make your homepage.  Which is not necessarily so bad---I happen to think that it will be time well-spent, for you will be getting started in something with enormous potential beyond just this one project.

For the moment, I am NOT in a position to teach you, from scratch, how to create a site---it just takes too long to do one-on-one.  Still, maybe I can point you in the right direction.  I have put down some thoughts on getting started which you can find here--- your own webpage.  It includes links to tutorials and helpful sites.  

Here are a number of guidelines for you to follow in the construction of your site.

1. tell me (try e-mail!) in as much detail as possible what you want to do
2. get help if you need it, but do the webpage authoring yourself: learn a new skill!
3. the heart of the project is still RESEARCH: you are expected to do in-depth reading on your topic, just as you would on a non-computer project
4. produce CONTENT not gimmicks:
• avoid distracting backgrounds
• avoid large in-line images that take forever to load
• avoid animations that are not directly part of the presentation
• text should be clear, well organized, easy to read

You should choose between three basic options for your webpage project:

1.  Organize a site as a learning center.  Explore the web for useful and high-quality sites on your topic; create links to them at your site; write reviews of the links; and organize all of it so that it is clear, useful, fun, and accurate.

2.  Make an image gallery.  Take advantage of the graphics capabilities of the www. Find (or make) good photos, plans, or other images related to your topic, make descriptive captions, and organize it in a way that teaches, and tells a story.

3.  Publish your writing.  Use the webpage simply as a way to publish the essay, or historical fiction which you have written for your project.

A Note of Caution!

I welcome the use of the www and the internet in history research projects. But these technologies can be a trap.

The internet, for all the incredible research power it offers, can also be an incredible distraction, if you let it.   If you're looking for "get acquainted" information on a topic, turn the computer off and go to the library.   The power of the "net" kicks in when you have something specific that you're looking for---advanced information, details, graphics, or (via newsgroups) help from experts in a field. Plan your internet forays: know what you're looking for, and keep moving, keep trying different sites, different search terms . . . don't let yourself be distracted by all the geegaws and the glitz.